| Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Muinul Islam | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1896 (1310 Hijri) |
| Type | Islamic university |
| Chancellor | Majlis-e-Shura |
| Rector | Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi |
| Academic staff | 80 (2010)[1] |
| Students | 15,000 (Total 2008[2]) |
| Undergraduates | 6,500 (2010)[3] |
| Postgraduates | 1,900(2010) |
| Location | Hathazari, Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Campus | Urban (4.24 Acres) |
| Website | http://darululum-hathazari.com/ |
Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Muinul Islam (Bengali: আল্-জামিয়াতুল আহ্লিয়া দারুল উলূম মুঈনুল ইসলাম (হাটহাজারী মাদ্রাসা)), popularly known as the Hathazari Madrassah or the "Boro Madrassah" ("big school"), is a Kawmi[4] (Qaumi) educational institution in Hathazari, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Established in 1896 (1310 Hijri), it is the largest and oldest Deobandi madrassah in Bangladesh.[5][6] It follows the Darul Ulum system introduced by Darul Ulum Deoband, an Islamic School propagating Islam in Indian Subcontinent.
Every year the madrasah jāmiʿah produces hundreds of "ulema".
According to a 2009 National Bureau of Asian Research report:[7]
"With its impeccable Deobandi credentials, Hathazari madrasa ranks among the top ten madrasas in the subcontinent in terms of its academic standards and reputation."
Contents |
| Key figures | |
|
Qasim Nanotvi · Rashid Gangohi |
|
| Notable Institutions | |
|
Darul Uloom Deoband, India |
|
| Movements | |
|
Tablighi Jamaat |
The second largest Islamic University of the Indian Subcontinent, Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam was first established in 1896 CE. It was moved to its present location in Hathazari, Bangladesh in 1901.[8] The Jamiah introduces the Islamic education and Reformation movement in this region.[9] Then the British ruled the education system; the culture and social condition of this region were not favorable with the belief and aqeedah of Muslims. To preserve the religious education and culture of the Muslim, to remove the Shirk- Bid’ah grown in their social life and to recover the Muslim nation from the aggression of foreign culture, the centre of traditional Islamic education Darul Uloom Deoband was established in Indian Subcontinent in 1866 CE.[10]
For the same purpose, a few famous Ulema of the port-city Chittagong took the decision to establish Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam according to the constitution of world famous Islamic religious education centre Darul Uloom Deoband to save the Muslims of East Bengal from the bondage of foreign tradition and Shirk-Bida’h. To apply this decision, by the order of Hakeemul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi his favorite disciple and student Shaikul Islam Maulana Habibullah along with Maulana Abdul Wahed , Maulana Sufi Azizur Rahman and Maulana Abdul Hamid establish the madrasah.[11]
Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam has reached 115 years since establishment by Shaikhul Islam Maulana Habibullah in 1896 CE. The Jamiah has still kept its struggle continuing for the sake of the Muslim Ummah. Centering Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam thousands of madrasahs, mosques, maktabs and prayer houses are established.[12].
The Hathazari Madrasah became "arguably the most reputable Quomi madrasa in the country."[8]
Starting in 2004, the Hathazari Madrasa has been at the center of media attention due to allegations that it is a haven for "terrorist" training.[8] This is the first time in the institution's long history that such allegations have been made against the madrasah itself.[8]
On February 2010, 40 students were arrested for clashing with police and later released. Students had allegedly snatched a service rifle.[13]
The Darul Ulum has divided its education system into six major levels:
The "Boro Madrassah" is one of the three large madrassahs, along with Al-Jamiah Al-Islamiah in Patiya and Jamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia Lalkhan Bazar, that together control over 7000 smaller schools in Bangladesh.[4][14] The three schools are closely coordinated.[14]
This following magazines are being published by Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Muinul Islam.
There are allegations that the Madrassah is a training ground for Islamic extremists.[4][8] While authorities of the school have confirmed that some graduates volunteered for the Afghan jihad during the 1980s, there was no strong evidence to suggest that the school itself was recruiting for the jihad.[8]
The rector of the school, Maulana Ahmad Shafi—popularily known as "Boro Huzur" (the eldest scholar)[15]—is also the chairman of a faction of the political party Islami Oikya Jote.[16] Critics of the party say that membership of IOJ coincides with the Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI, Movement of Islamic Holy War), though a leading Bangladeshi political scientist warns little is actually known about their organization.[17]
Rector Ahmad is also purported to be the leader of a group called "Hifazat-e-Islam,"[18] which he claims to be a peaceful organization.[19] Ahmad and his colleagues state that the group is for protesting the government's decisions to introduce a secular education system. However, there are claims that Hifazat-e-Islam is militant.[18] A statement from the police mentions that men, suspected to be from Hifazat-e-Islam, fired gunshots and threw homemade bombs on the police, causing injuries to 5 or 6 police constables.[19] It is unclear whether or not these actions were approved by Ahmad Shafi.
The Jamiah Darul Ulum Moinul Islam has produced a large number of notable scholars. Among them the most famous are: